Major + Minor in the same position?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 01 Apr 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Kurai Yuko	01 Apr 2003
I know the subject of this post seems to be confusing but I'll explain it. I read somewhere that it's possible to use two cards on each position of the spread: one of the Major Arcana and the other of the Minor. The Major Card tells the main situation and Minor tells how it's going to show itself (making the reading of each position much more detailed). I just want to know if anybody has used this method or if you think it's useful to take more than one card for each position. I'm slowly coming back to Tarot, after some months of 'reading problems'.... Thanks :op Yuko

HudsonGray	01 Apr 2003
I haven't heard of that one exactly--you'd have to separate out the majors before doing the spread--but I do remember something just recently where they were talking about a shadow spread. The first line of cards laid down were the major issues, then a second line of cards were done behind the first cards, which would be the stuff working in the shadows. The whole deck was used, so nothing was taken out for separate shufflings. That way a major could end up in the shadow side. Either way would work though. Have you tried it yet?

Astraea	01 Apr 2003
Both techniques sound very intriguing. The first method would work beautifully with a Majors-only deck in combination with a favorite 78-card deck. I wish I had an experiential answer to your question, Kurai Yuko. Thank you for posting this query, as it presents such an interesting reading concept -- hopefully, someone here will have personal knowledge of the technique. :)

Rusty Neon	01 Apr 2003
I've seen some French tarot books (Tarot de Marseille) that use paired Major Arcana and Minor Arcana cards in the same position. The Minor card is there to give a spin, or more details, on the significance of the Major card.

Diana	02 Apr 2003
Rusty Neon is right (he normally is. :) ). Separate your Majors from your Minors. Do your reading with the Majors, and if you need clarification on any of the cards, or more insight, you can use the Minors. You can use as many as you want to (there are no rules in Tarot, right?). Although if it's just for a little insight, I would say that two should be the maximum before you start getting confused. However, there is another way of doing it. You can use as many Minors as you want until you reach the one that shows you that your problem will be solved. They will show you the best possible path that you can follow, the obstacles and help you will receive, and the best way to solve your problem. The more cards you draw, the more patience you will need to solve it, because they indicate also the length of time that it will take.

KelarSkye	02 Apr 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Diana However, there is another way of doing it. You can use as many Minors as you want until you reach the one that shows you that your problem will be solved. They will show you the best possible path that you can follow, the obstacles and help you will receive, and the best way to solve your problem. The more cards you draw, the more patience you will need to solve it, because they indicate also the length of time that it will take. This is intruiging! I think I might have to practice with it. That is something that has frustrated me about tarot, my inability to note time. There is a big difference between an approach to a situtation when 5 days, 5 weeks and 5 months are the variants! Thanks, Kelar

coldsuns	02 Apr 2003
I read about a method in a article is- Put the Major Arcana on either left/right Then Minor Arcana on either right/left They must be in 2 V-shapes Use left hand to take a card from Major Arcana then Minor Arcana until the 7th card. Put then in a row of 7. 1st from right to 7th at the most left.

Kurai Yuko	02 Apr 2003
Oh, so many insightful answers. Anyway, thank you all for answering. I'll try myself the technique, then tell you if it worked or not :) Again, thank you! Yuko

Rusty Neon	02 Apr 2003
Quote: Originally posted by KelarSkye This is intruiging! I think I might have to practice with it. That is something that has frustrated me about tarot, my inability to note time. There is a big difference between an approach to a situtation when 5 days, 5 weeks and 5 months are the variants! Thanks, Kelar For the use of tarot cards for event timing based on Golden Dawn's tarot system, check out the following website: http://www.supertarot.co.uk/astro/timing.htm Best regards, RustyNeon

The Major + Minor in the same position? thread was originally posted on 01 Apr 2003 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.